River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-07-21


the preSideing officer Of the meeting
Mr. Stockton in turn presented Col
Charles f. BIne~. President Of the
Philadelphia Brigade Association, who
said:
col. EANEs' ADDRESS.
FELLOw-CIrIzENs AND MEMBERS OF
PICKETT's DIVISION or THE ARMY or
NORTHERN NIEGINIA. An honorable
and pleasing duty has been assigned to
me by the Philadelphia Brigade. Of the
Second Division. Second Corps. Army
Of the Potomac.
This veteran brigade o. the Union
army. COMPOSED Of the Ggth. list, I'D
AMI Tooth Pa. upon more than one
occasion during the. dark hours of the
Republic. encountered Your people In
active warfare and il fell 10 our lot To
meet in hostile array and deadly con
tiict in what might be- truly called the
crisis Of the battle of Gettysburg.
within the sight Of the MASSES of both
arms ON that memorable afternoon Of
july 3. 1868.
The incidents Of the conflict crowd
upon us faster than pen can write or
tongue narrate; the ceasing Of the
cannonade. the pOwder-Stdined artil-
lerymen >priuging on the caissOns To
witness the scene. the emerging of
Your gray lines of battle from the
smoky atmosphere that circled around
the jded range of Missionary Ridge,
the plungin- shot and canister that tore
your rslI ~ "a yau moved forW ard to the
assault. the occasional and deliberate
halt Ia -trairhtru Your lines. Disrupted
By the bursting shells. and the quickly
renewed onward charge until your
division ~urgtd against the position
held by our brigade Ike a tidal wave
of battle. will never while memory lasts
fade from those who Witnessed the
scene Kemper. Garnet, officers of
the line and men in the ranks, are
struck down while Armi~tead, sword
i'm hand. leads the van Of attack and.
with hundreds Of men equally brave.
reaches our lines only to lie a soldier :
death.
We have dwelt for a few moments
ON the incidents of battle for the reason
that the plac" aud the associations
compel the reference; but to-day, sol
diers of the coutending armies. we
meet a. citizens Of a united country.
The old issues are dead AMI new ones
confront us We who have fought as the
blue and gray can discuss the past,
if need. in the fight of the present. as
travellers who. after periluus Journeys
In -fF NnrEm
on the mountain-top and review the
scenes through which they have passed
and the dangers If the road over which
they have jourueyed.
We welcome You To thi, historic field
and it, memories with true sOldierly
greeting. In the performance of this
duty We would To houorably acquit
ourselves did We not announce to YOU
that the spontaneous movement of the
Philadelphia Brigade in the tender Of
this reception has the cordial and prac-
tic.tl support If our citizenSo Of all classes
and pursuits II life
cart. REEVES RESPONSE
Upon behalf Of Pickett's veterans
Capt. c. p. Reeve. of Richmond. the
commander Of Pickett'S Division As
sociatiou. responded as follows:
FRIENDS ANp COMRADES: | desire
for myself and comrades 10 tender you
our heartfelt thanks for the kind. cor
dial and hearty welcome extended Us
on this. an occasion never To he for
gotten 10y uS. but cherished and re-
mrmbered a. a bright spot in the
checkerrd pathway of life.
Aud what shall / say for those. my
comrsde~. eudelred bv privation> shared,
har,l>hips endured and dangers en-
counterfeit Sclrcriy is there "A battle
field from Bull Run 70 APPROXIMATION ON
which some dear To me did not crown
with cir lives their devotion 10 theiI
native State. Dear comrades, hOuOred
n men. loved rs companions, cold IN
death will my heart be ere | cease Il
love ard honor yuu' Yet my heart ]:
larsye enough "a embrace my whole
country. from the Atlantic q tbs
Pacific. from the lakes to the gulf. to re
iaice in her prosperity. 10 glory in hel
Greatness: 10 feel "a thrill of pride wheI
her course i a glorious ~ her nigh
TtA~l-tLt~-. " Utl HNA Ati-l-- ilsAtiAliAt
equals her power. Aud tn YOU. gentle
men Of GettySbur-. let me say this j
an opportunity 70 display magma
nfnity worthy Of this great Nation
Leave 10 time. the tombstone which
trie, an human action. the question o
right and wrong involved: let the tutur
historian. probably yet unborn, try IN
cause. and PROSPERITY VIII render a yer
diet which l. apt Ia lee just To then
let Us leave II. IL deeds have beel
done. it, drama closed, but for on
country there remains future.
We. too. are making history. II thi
occasion. being in the interest II peac
and reconciliation. viii iii g hr'gh
PAGE in that history. with what luste
would that one shine which would r,
cord a similar Reunion. national in II
character. in which should be- burieda
rancor and hatred. from which
would 20 forth not merely citizens, br
friends and brothers. animated by on
aim-the greatness and glory Of oI
common country. Adopt, In its tru